Ever Wondered How....

Your Tripod Works?

A tripod is an important component in any serious photographers set up, not just an accessory. One of the main reasons for using a tripod is to avoid camera shake and maximizing your image quality. When there is no need to raise the ISO or shutter speed and choosing a higher aperture to maintain this image quality, using a tripod would definitely improve your photography. Many lenses today have built in optical stabilization (which is handy in certain public areas where there may be restrictions on use of tripods) however there is no substitute for a good quality sturdy tripod when time is on your side for that professional looking image.

For landscapes where you want sharp depth of field and or that silky motion of water effect with slow shutter speeds then you must use a tripod to achieve this (remember to use your remote cable or timer). If you feel constricted using a tripod composing your shot before attaching the camera to it may be easier for you. Tripods give you that control not only for shooting landscapes but for portraits, products etc on location and in studio.

Choosing the correct tripod is important and make sure it’s a well know brand and can take the weight of your camera and lens. There is no point in spending big money on your camera only to place it on a cheap tripod that could not only disappoint but cause damage. You can buy tripod legs and heads separately depending on your needs for eg a 3-way Pan Tilt head might be easy for you capture landscapes with a front and horizontal tilt or a Ball Type head may suit for more intricate work. If you are using a heavy, large telephoto lens for bird photography or air shows a Gimble style head would be most suitable.

Just remember when shooting a stationary object without a tripod, particularly with a heavy lens, choose a faster shutter speed to avoid that camera movement..